God remembered His people during the exile and promised to bring them back to their homeland and set up a new kingdom. ``I even paid close attention to you; Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job, Not one of you who answered his words. In God's wisdom, Daniel was brought to Babylon to give counsel. 1:14-16 God granted Daniel favor with the guard, who agreed to the conditions for a period of ten days (1:14). In our suffering we gain and we . To stand firm through faithful obedience to God's divine word and what you know he is calling you to do. The same was true of Daniel's three friends, who ended up being cast into the fiery furnace because they refused to worship the Nebuchadnezzar . First, the tithe goes to God through His representative, the priest. ``If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hastened after deceit. 5Then these men said, We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.. Israel had disobeyed God and suffered for it in exile, but God stood ready to bless his people when they obeyed and trusted him. Even so, Daniel and his friends were about to suffer under a renewed fit of Nebuchadnezzars arrogance. The prophet's faith began with his parents, who likely talked about the . Embrace God's gift of friendship and form a deeper relationship with Him. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Second, the Bible repeats that it is one-tenth. ``I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? ``Shall I wait, because they do not speak, Because they stop and no longer answer? This early invasion resulted in his taking back to Babylon some of the vessels from the house of God (1:2), probably to show his dominance over Judah, and also some young men from the royal family and from the nobility (1:3). These are the people to whom he wants us to do good. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. What then could I do when God arises? And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned. Or, more likely, we might wake up one day and realize that we are already compromising Gods desires for our work by the goals we pursue, the powers we exercise, the relationships we misuse or the compromises we make. The book of Daniel is about how God shows His everlasting wisdom, power, and faithfulness through one of Israel's greatest prophets. How does the Book of Daniel express or reveal the sovereignty of God? Daniel 6:1-28. Youre now subscribed to the In Touch daily devotions email! In our world, if you stand up to a boss over an issue of, say, sexual harassment or falsification of data, the most likely outcome is that you will be punished, marginalized, sullied, misunderstood and maybe fired. The Lord blessed him with the gift of interpreting dreams and visions. The royal plan was to train him and the others to be Nebuchadnezzars court advisers (1:4). All Rights Reserved. 6. How did Daniel show faithfulness to God? ``There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. There is no shortage of temptations and stumbling blocks that the enemy uses to take down Christian leaders. The Bible is saturated with great examples of godly leadership, and Daniel is a prime example. ``Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it. ``If not, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.". And Daniel would find many opportunities to demonstrate his allegiance to a kingdom agenda that didnt come from Nebuchadnezzar. ``For calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing. Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. Among these was Daniel. - for us, moving is the American way. What does this show about God's faithfulness? Faithfulness to the Lord despite temptation is an essential quality of Christian leadership. 39. For an explanation of the themes in and structure of Daniel, see the section "The Big Picture of the Book of Daniel". This is an example for all to follow. Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. You can check these in your browser security settings. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Read Bible Verses During Regular Nature Walks. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. Who says to a king, `Worthless one,' To nobles, `Wicked ones'; Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands? Daniel was arrested and thrown into the lions' den. How did Daniel show courage in the Bible? What are the causes of adversity, and how should we view it? ``Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you. And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 28. Later, in Babylon, he courageously refused to eat the kings food, which had been offered to idols and therefore violated Scripture (Ex. Daniel 7:13-14 says, In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like the son of man (Messiah Matt 26:64; Lk 21:27; Jn 1:51), coming with the clouds of heaven (God's majestyEx 16:10; Ex 19:9; Rev 1:7). What gift did God give Daniel in the Bible? Todays workplace Christians seldom face such extreme hostility, at least in the western world. 40. All rights reserved. To seek and follow Him above all else in this life! It comes from a place of realizing that we are in need of a Savior and that He is in control of our lives. The habit of gratitude can bring joy and peace to your life, even in toughseasons. Obeying the Lord in little things prepared Daniel to trust God with his life. What does this show about God's faithfulness? 15. That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride; He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol. What do you call people who like to drink? Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org. For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know. There were also many temptations, and opportunities for him to become proud or corrupt or to compromise, but he never did. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel - Daniel 1:8-9 ``If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands. My God sent his angel to save me. 1:1-7 Nebuchadnezzars invasion of Judah in 605 BC was the first of his three invasions and deportations that ended in the exile of Judah. By Gods grace, Daniels humility enabled him to prosper in Nebuchadnezzars court, even as God was preparing to cast down the kings empire. How can I have faith like Daniel? Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Salem Media Group. Actually, Jesus is contrasting the faithfulness of our loving God to the cynical, self-serving, unrighteous judge. What concerned Daniel most was that God would be exalted as all-glorious, and Daniel knew that His obedience would lead to that end. The one thing we absolutely must not do is to be presumptuous or over-confident. Secondly, Daniel Overcame the Obstacle of Becoming Bitter Because of His Place. He was a person of exceptional character and capability. ``Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst. Daniel begins by establishing between him and God that he, Daniel, understood that God is faithful. How did Daniel have an excellent spirit? His dreams give a preview of God's redemptive story and absolutely point to Jesus as Savior. Fasting. They show how God is sovereign over rulers and kingdoms, giving and taking power and kingdoms to rulers and kings (4:32, 4:17). God did not have to shift from Plan A to Plan B because of unexpected circumstances. Daniel's conflict is resolved through the personal appearance of the character Jesus. 2. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. His actions were to reflect God and not to bring attention to himself or to glorify anyone around him. You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. This period beginning with the Babylonian exile is still in effect today, and will continue until Jesus Christ returns at the end of the great tribulation, frees Israel from its Gentile oppressors, and establishes his millennial kingdom. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. A time of promise-keeping (Psalm 105:7-15) The psalmist reminds the reader that God didn't just make a covenant or promise to His people. Daniel 6:1-14 - The Trap. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. ``Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? ``Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay. Dec. 9, 2010. For example, we are able to be loyal in our relationships here on Earth and truly love others. 7. What can we learn from Daniel in the lion's den? Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Contributors: Kenneth Mathews Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board Apr. God knows everything we are going through at this very moment and everything we will go through in the future. The angel closed the lions' mouths. Why did God look favorably on Daniel?. God kept the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac, and . He exemplifies fearless faithfulness to the Lord, and there are countless lessons that we can learn from him. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. He also honours those who honour Him. God shepherded Daniel through that situation and as well as many others where his position or his life was at risk. Why did the king respect him so much? All Christians are called to covenant fidelity to the Lord, and it is the burden of the leaders God has established to set the example of faithfulness that others can follow. In the same way that a leader must not lift oneself up with pride, one must also not depend on oneself, but rather remain completely dependent on the Lord. What was so special about Daniel in the Bible? Humility is an essential characteristic of a godly leader. That is very rarely the way that God operates. ``For has anyone said to God, `I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore; Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not do it again'? Theres a lesson here for Christians, too. 1. 11:1). 21. They inspire and challenge us. Unlike some today, Daniel's friends did not believe that faithfulness to God guarantees freedom from suffering and tribulation. 35. May 26, 2023 Have you ever played the game called Scruples? So, the risk was less intense. Sign-up for our Daily Devotions Email to have it delivered to your inbox each morning. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Nonetheless, to them, being faithful to God was the right thing to do, whether or not it was path to success. As James says, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6). You really ought to dig into Daniel with a Bible study and commentary to learn about this character for yourself, but for starters, here's 12 biblical facts about Daniel that don't get a lot of screen time in church. ``Why do you complain against Him That He does not give an account of all His doings? 3:8-12). ( Psalm 37:3) The people and responsibilities in front of us are where God wants us to trust him. We witness Gods answers to prayer and increasingly depend on Him until we have a personal history of His trustworthiness. Daniel, as much as any other hero in the Bible, demonstrates complete dependence on the Lord and sets an example that all Christian leaders must follow. (And I may have used my favorite Bible software to make this list.) Although we do not know exactly what he prayed forhe . ``Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who know. Does the Bible Advise Us about Dealing with Grief? Its gigantic structure (ninety feet high) was constructed on the level plain of Dura which would have exaggerated the commanding presence of the image (Dan. After years of successfully bridging the tension between the pagan environment of the Babylonian court and their fidelity to God, they faced a situation where no compromise was possible without violating their integrity. Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley." When Darius the Mede took over the Babylonian kingdom, his leaders recommended that none shall worship anyone other than Darius. Those are the kind of words that real martyrs say. General Peter Pace, a former chairman of the U.S. militarys Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said, What I have come to really admire is something I call intellectual courage. And who has laid on Him the whole world? Regrettably, however, the very dream that led Nebuchadnezzar to recognize Gods hand on Daniel may also be what incited the king to build a golden image that he required all his subjects to worship (Dan. What are the seventy weeks of Daniel? These events unfold precisely as Daniel had spoken. The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Daniel was convicted for his actions, and God rewarded his faithfulness, allowing him to survive the lions den. As a result, Daniel was thrown into a lions' den to be devoured. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. He faced far more pressures and problems than we are ever likely to face. 4. ``If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. How does the story of Daniel point to Jesus? We explore what the Bible has to say about the purpose of your work with guest Tom Lutz. ``My words are from the uprightness of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely. 12. Though these Jewish men were the ones in exile, God would show himself to be superior through them. What lessons can we learn from Daniel? Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." - Daniel 6:10, NIV Daniels continual devotion to prayer empowered him to live the life of faith and leadership that we read about in this great book. In the opening chapter of Daniel, the manner in which Daniel chooses to protect himself from the indulgences of the Babylonian empire is an example that all leaders ought to follow. Used by permission. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. What Does Nehemiah's Life Teach Us about Following God? Keep Your Bible and Prayer Journal Nearby. Therefore not even his enemies could find any fault in him, even though they wanted to: 1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;2and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Daniel 4:36-37. 8. Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. ``Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice. 22, 2010. ``If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me. 10 key points from the Bible give a foundation for Christians asking what the Bible says about our work. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. ``For he has said, `It profits a man nothing When he is pleased with God.'. Please send me newsletters, announcements, and other important communications from InTouchMinistries. We need to learn to speak the truth clearly, with humility, in our own workplaces. . In any case, there may well come a day when we recognize that we must make a radical change, such as saying, No, being fired, resigning, blowing the whistle or standing up for someone else. How does Daniel trust God? This endowment soon made him an object of greater attention from the emperor, and he was raised to positions that enabled him to spend his life in service to the kings of the land. Can a 14 year old date a 17 year old in Japan? This episode is especially poignant because it shows that Daniel and his friends lived in the same world we do. Many Christians have wondered whether they could be sufficiently faithful to pass the test of martyrdom if they ever had to face it. Why was Daniel successful? All four of these young men, probably in their late teens, faced the test of what to do about the food that was being offered to them. However, we do know that he prayed to God for help. If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, Because I saw I had support in the gate. Were a teaching ministry dedicated to leading people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthening the local church. While reading the book of Daniel, it's good to keep the big picture in mind: This is a story about the man's great trust. Biblical decision-making principles for tough situations at work. All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. 26. : firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty : conscientious. Why do Daniel and Revelation give varying counts of 1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 days for the tribulation? He wanted boys who were healthy, handsome, and good learners to serve in his palace. Spread the love. Believe in his leadership? There are so many dramatic features in this story - the jealousy of political subordinates, the vanity of a king, the integrity of a man, the power and preservation of God, even wild animals and violence. ``Do not say, `We have found wisdom; God will rout him, not man.'. ``Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom. Yes! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! 2018 David Guzik No distribution beyond personal use without permission. ``In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds. Have you discovered a congregation to callhome? We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Therefore, if you want to maximise the likelihood of your staying faithful to the end, no matter what, then take care to be faithful now in the small, day to day pressures that you currently face. This is where he calls us to practice, cultivate . This promise is found in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.. What is the true meaning of faithfulness? ``For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me. What was the unique ability given to Daniel by God? That, likewise, was not the first test that they ever faced. God blessed Daniel and his friends. Key Verse: (God) rescues people and sets them free by working great miracles. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. The law explicitly taught, for instance, that they could not eat foods offered to idols (see Exod 34:15). But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before God. ``My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.". 16. Third, this law was in effect long before God commanded it through Moses. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, ``I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think. ``For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. God is practical and He knows that our faithfulness and courage have to be developed over time, like a muscle. a faithful employee. He was the Prime Minister, and at this time he was between 80 and 90 years of age. So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel Daniel 1:8-9. How did God protect Daniel from the lions? They attended the king, and he consulted them in matters of wisdom and understanding. God is faithful to forgive sins. The same is true for usfaith grows as we take more steps of obedience. Knowing that Daniel was faithful to his God, they knew that they could convict him, and have valid reason to cast him into the lions den. 2023 Womansclubofcarlsbad. `He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.'. When Daniel was threatened for his faithfulness to God, he responded with growing intensity in his dependence on the Lord. Even as he said it, I was reminded of the over-confident bravado of apostle Peter as he talked big on the night Jesus was arrested. Introduction to Growing in the character of a disciple, We fight between our spirit and our flesh, Every disciple must lose his fear of people, Some of the beneficial effects of hardship, Faithfulness to colleagues, customers etc, Fear of the LORD helps you to stay faithful, Honesty in preaching and teaching the Bible. Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. There was a lesson here for Daniels earliest readers. 32. But we could be ordered to do something that we cannot do in good conscience. But, along the way, Daniel would face a crisis of worldview and truth that would pit him against the most powerful human king and kingdom on earth. The same was true of Daniels three friends, who ended up being cast into the fiery furnace because they refused to worship the Nebuchadnezzars image. There was a deep seated, in the core of who he was, understanding that God was Holy and that he was called to live a holy life before God! It is written: When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open towards Jerusalem. ``He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. He determined that he would not defile himself with the kings food. We put our faith in God by believing what God tells us in his Word. While reading the book of Daniel, its good to keep the big picture in mind: This is a story about the mans great trust. Faithfulness means steadfast loyalty that isn't easily swayed. Working as a Christian is not another shortcut to success, but instead brings the constant danger of suffering. ``Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb? These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Our faithfulness to God means trusting in Him and loving Him through all circumstances. Faithfulness requires us to submit our ways to God. The King came to Daniel asking for his dream to be interpreted, and Daniel did so. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. He would have done much better if he had simply said:Lord, if I am tested today, please give me the grace and courage I need to stay faithful to you. Previously, they served as models of how to thrive by following God in a hostile environment. . Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Dreams and Idols - Faithfulness in Exile [Daniel] - Tim Mackie (The Bible Project), (Video) 4. Lessons from 3 Biblical Leaders on How to Leave a Godly Legacy, 4 Motivating Examples of Godly Leadership in the Bible, 5 Things Good Leaders Do (and 5 They Don't). He was known by everyone for his piety and for his faith in God, and in consequence he had many enemies. As the famous proverb says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. What is the main lesson to be learned from the story of Daniel in the lion's den? Knowing that remaining faithful to the Lord would result in being cast into the lions den, Daniel responded by spending even more time in prayer to God. The edifice signified the resurgent pride of the Babylonian king. . Letting go of doubts each time, the prophet steadfastly obeyed the Lord and endured. In this case, Daniel was supposed to be lunch for the lions, but God had other plans. It is due to Daniel's complete dependence on God that God allowed him to endure, and it is the responsibility of all Christian leaders to exhibit this same faithfulness to the Lord as Daniel did. But God sent an angel to protect him, and he emerged miraculously unharmed the next day. When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. Fourth, Abram, blessed for his faithfulness to God, gave tithes in recognition of God's rulership and providence. To be a godly leader is to be a humble leader. 4Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom; but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
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